A new NASA contest challenges college-level students to design tools or instrument packages that could be used on the next generation of human-driven moon rovers. Student will have the
opportunity to engage in NASA's return to the moon by designing equipment that will help astronauts accomplish tasks on the lunar surface.
Moon explorers will need to navigate in darkness around the moon's south pole and collect lunar regolith, or moon dust, for on-site analysis and radiation detection. They will need to communicate with Earth, a lunar outpost and spacecraft orbiting the moon. Moon inhabitants also will conduct video surveys of the moon's surface for transmission back to Earth, and practice rescue and the safe return of astronauts to their outpost from sorties.
Moon dust has the potential to serve as an on-site resource for building materials, water and oxygen. However, because of its structure, the dust can damage space suits, rovers and other
equipment. The particles have sharp, jagged edges and contain microscopic shards of glass. Tool or instrument designs that can withstand the sharp-edged particles could help future astronauts and might earn students an internship at a NASA facility.
The contest is open to full-time students enrolled in accredited post-secondary institution such as universities, colleges, trade schools, community colleges and professional schools in the United
States or its territories. Individuals or teams may apply, and interdisciplinary teams from across departments and institutions are encouraged.
NASA plans to invite contest winners to the next set of lunar technology mission tests planned for the summer or fall of 2009. Paid internships also are planned as student awards. The contest continues NASA's tradition of investing in the nation's education programs and ties into the agency's goal of strengthening NASA and America's future workforce.
To participate in the contest, students must submit a notice of intent to NASA by Dec. 15, 2008, with final papers due May 15, 2009. Specific details about how participation in the NASA University Design Contest in Exploration Systems, including submission requirements, can be found on the Web at:
http://moontasks.larc.nasa.gov
The contest is sponsored by NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. For more information about the directorate, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/exploration
opportunity to engage in NASA's return to the moon by designing equipment that will help astronauts accomplish tasks on the lunar surface.
Moon explorers will need to navigate in darkness around the moon's south pole and collect lunar regolith, or moon dust, for on-site analysis and radiation detection. They will need to communicate with Earth, a lunar outpost and spacecraft orbiting the moon. Moon inhabitants also will conduct video surveys of the moon's surface for transmission back to Earth, and practice rescue and the safe return of astronauts to their outpost from sorties.
Moon dust has the potential to serve as an on-site resource for building materials, water and oxygen. However, because of its structure, the dust can damage space suits, rovers and other
equipment. The particles have sharp, jagged edges and contain microscopic shards of glass. Tool or instrument designs that can withstand the sharp-edged particles could help future astronauts and might earn students an internship at a NASA facility.
The contest is open to full-time students enrolled in accredited post-secondary institution such as universities, colleges, trade schools, community colleges and professional schools in the United
States or its territories. Individuals or teams may apply, and interdisciplinary teams from across departments and institutions are encouraged.
NASA plans to invite contest winners to the next set of lunar technology mission tests planned for the summer or fall of 2009. Paid internships also are planned as student awards. The contest continues NASA's tradition of investing in the nation's education programs and ties into the agency's goal of strengthening NASA and America's future workforce.
To participate in the contest, students must submit a notice of intent to NASA by Dec. 15, 2008, with final papers due May 15, 2009. Specific details about how participation in the NASA University Design Contest in Exploration Systems, including submission requirements, can be found on the Web at:
http://moontasks.larc.nasa.gov
The contest is sponsored by NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. For more information about the directorate, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/exploration
Do you like this article? Share It!
0 comments to "NASA CHALLENGES STUDENTS TO DESIGN TOOLS FOR MOON ROVERS"
Popular Posts
-
NASA is providing up to $20 million over the next five years to support a national program to inspire student interest in science, technolo...
-
Even though there are many advancement in technology, keeping foods fresher in space for a long period has been impossible. Research has b...
-
Though the sun's brightness was once thought to be constant, NASA has launched a series of satellite instruments that have helpe...
-
NASA technologists will get a opportunity next summer time to experience the good old days when Organization technical engineers would conn... -
X-24B Precision Landings Proved That Shuttle Could Land Unpowered NASA research pilot John Manke worked through his prelaunch checklist wh... -
The mars rock touches the NASA curiosity this time it touches the more different from before Tasks. The mars rock is looks like some odd... -
Leaner, greener flying machines for the year 2025 are on the drawing boards of three industry teams under contract to the NASA Aeronautics ... -
Images from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) reveal an old star in the throes of a fiery outburst, spraying the cosm... -
The argument that the moon is a dry, desolate place no longer holds water. Secrets the moon has been holding, for perhaps billions of years,...
